The beginner's guide to Spectrum Noir markers

Spectrum Noir offers markers for colouring, watercolour effects, detailed areas and a variety of other needs.

For beginners it can be a little bit confusing to know which is best for you and your art and colouring project. So today we'll break down each of our Spectrum Noir marker products, giving you an insight into what they're good for, their design and how they work.

It's the perfect place to start if you're a Spectrum Noir newbie!

Classique Markers

Spectrum Noir Classique markers feature translucent alcohol dye, which can be built up for incredible, vivid colour or used across shades for seamless blending. They're ideal for those of us that want a smooth colour laydown, but the option of bolder swipes of colour or finer details.

Key features: New Japanese nibs for high quality colouring, translucent alcohol dye for colour build up, and chisel nib and bullet tip dual-end design.

Over 200 colours in the range. Available as single shades, packs of six and packs of twelve.

Can be paired up with the Alcohol Re-Inkers to extend the life of your pens.

Illustrator Markers

The incredible Illustrators follow the same Colouring System as the Classiques, so you'll be able to match the colours up perfectly or find that ideal complementary shade.

The difference between the Illustrators and the Classiques is that the Illustrators feature a brush tip to help you create lines of varying width. This makes them ideal for creating textured looks and detail!

Key features: Brush tip for varying line sizes, super-fine nib for fine details and Japanese nib combination.

Over 200 colours in the range. Available as single shades, packs of six and packs of twelve.

Perfect for a smooth coverage and professional finish.

TriBlend Markers

The TriBlends are one of our most unique marker designs to date as they feature three separate ink chambers within the barrel. They feed through to their own fine-bullet nib, but clip together to form one pen. Each of the shades inside complements one another, so these are the perfect markers for creating depth and dimension on your work.

Key features: Unique 3-in-1 design and shades that complement each other for seamless blending and depth.

56 colours (with three shades in each, resulting in 168 shades). Available in single shades or packs of six.

Ideal for creating realistic shadows and depth on your artwork.

Metallic Markers

As the name may suggest, Spectrum Noir's Metallics have been specifically designed to add a smooth and reflective finish. These water-based markers provide a fade-free, flawless result every time and look especially brilliant against dark surfaces. The ink inside has been blended with metallic pigments to result in an unbeatable opaque colour with a stunning sheen, so if you want to turn heads, this is the way to go!

Key features: Dual-tipped for lettering, embellishing and colouring, provides an opaque laydown of metallic colour and fade-free.

18 colours in the range. Available in packs of six.

Great for a reflective finish.

Aqua Markers

In contrast to the super opaque Metallics, the Aqua Markers will add a translucent wash of colour to a piece and give you the ability to blend them out with water. Each pen is dual-tipped, combining a flexible brush for loose, broad coverage and an ultra-fine tip for outlines and details. These markers are perfect for watercolour-style sketching on the go!

Key features: A flexible brush for broad strokes, an ultra-fine tip for details and water-based dye that can be blended out with water.

72 colours in the range. Available in packs of six and twelve.

Perfect for watercolour effects and creating backgrounds.

TriColour Aqua Markers

Each 3-in-1 pen holds a trio of water-soluble colours to mix and blend effortlessly to create beautiful artwork. The watercolour effects of these pens offer a great way to try out new techniques, from creating blended and diffused stamped images to subtle blended background washes.

Key Features:
Every pen contains a mini palette of expertly curated colour-schemes that complement one another perfectly. Quality, Japanese fibre brush tips.

5 packs of three pens: With three colours in each pen, resulting in 45 shades

Glitter Markers

Each marker is absolutely packed with glitter, resulting in a rich and opaque swoop of shimmering colour every time.

Key Features: Versatile rounded tips for smooth, accurate lines and detailed colouring make Glitter Markers ideal for lettering, journaling, cardmaking, colouring and so much more.

3 packs of 6 Glitter Markers: A total of 18 shades

Sparkle Brush Markers

These pens are packed with fine glitter micro-pigment, in a range of vivid and blendable water-based colours.

Key Features:Flexible brush tip for accurate, mess free application - making them perfect for  lettering, embellishing, colouring and more!

Over 40 shades:Available in packs of 3 or packs of 6

Acrylic Paint Markers

These premium acrylic paint markers offer rich, opaque and colourful coverage on canvas, ceramic, glass, wood, porcelain, wood, fabric, card, paper and more.

Spectrum Noir Acrylic Paint Markers are perfect for putting your stamp on home decor projects and getting colourful with creative hobbies!

Key Features:Packed with highly pigmented premium water-based paint. 3mm bullet tip, ink level indicator and precision valve mechanism to prevent clogging.

12 Shades: Available in packs of 4.

Outline Markers

These innovative pens create metallic effects, with a big difference. Each pen holds two colours, an intense and opaque silver with a vividly coloured outline!

Key Features:Bullet tips that dispense two colours with every stroke, creating a clever outline effect

6 outline shades available, each with a metallic silver centre.

Not sure where to start when it comes to blending?

Our expert Leann Chivers shows your how to get started with the Illustrators. Check out the Crafter's TV YouTube Channel for even more amazing tutorials!

We'd love to see your creations using the Spectrum Noir Markers. Once you've created your artwork, make sure you show us and tag us in photos on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #crafterscompanion.